Saskatchewan MP Brad Trost eyes Conservative leadership

Saskatoon-University MP Brad Trost has confirmed he is pondering a run for the Conservative Party leadership, saying the party needs a "full spectrum" candidate and he fits the bill.

Trost is currently serving his fifth term as an MP in Saskatoon, having previously won four elections for the riding of Saskatoon-Humboldt before the boundaries were reconfigured.

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He said the party needs a candidate that is conservative across the board, but can also bring new ideas.

"I believe the Conservative Party needs what I'm calling a full spectrum conservative candidate," he said.

"One that is a candidate who is conservative on social issues, one that is a conservative on fiscal issues, and one that - how shall we put this - also is a bit of an outsider who can maybe bring a little bit of democratic reform ideals, different things in that respect."

If Trost does enter the leadership race, he will join Ontario MPs Kellie Leitch and Michael Chong, and Quebec MP Maxime Bernier.

Regina MP Andrew Scheerhasalso announced he isconsidering a run for the leadership.

Right now, Trostsaid he was looking into the viability of a campaign, and whether he can attract enough volunteers and fundraising support to proceed.

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"Those are the questions that one has to ask and once those are answered definitively then one has to look down, look at one's soul and say 'Is this a go, yes or no?'" said Trost.

He was also seeking advice from others on when to announce if he goes ahead with the campaign, but he is not sure when he will make a decision.

The Conservative Party, currently led byinterim leader is Rona Ambrose, will vote for its new leader on May 27, 2017.